2023 Jacksonville Board Certified Attorneys
The Jacksonville lawyers who will be certified by the Florida Bar in 2023 are featured in Attorney at Law Magazine. All lawyers who achieved this distinction deserve congratulations.
Mark Alexander
ADB Legal Civil Trial Law
Mark Alexander concentrates his practice in civil litigation and trial law, including the representation of employers and educational establishments in business disputes, employment, faculty, and student claims. He also provides advice and counsel to avoid conflict and dispute. His practice is largely focused on representing educational institutions in litigation involving faculty, staff, and student claims.
Tell about your decision to be board certified. I have long wanted to pursue board certification for civil trial work. But there always seemed to be something in my way. It was a long process, with many obstacles. There were clients, cases, economic pressures, family obligations, children that are now adults, and the right time had finally come. Board certification in civil trials work is the culmination of many years, hard work and many cases that were won or lost. I am proud to be a civil trial lawyer who is board-certified.
Holley Akers
O’Rourke & Akers, P.A.
Workers’ Compensation
Holley Akers belongs to the Florida Bar and Florida Workers’ Advocates. She is also a member of E. Robert Williams Inns of Court as well as the Friends of 440. She is also a member of the Florida Bar’s executive council and volunteers for the Florida Guardian Ad Litem Program.
Tell me what made you focus on workers compensation law. I’ve always loved fighting for the underdog.
John M. “Jay” Henderlite
Henderlite
Marital and Family Law
Henderlite, Family Law Attorneys. He specializes in complex divorces and high-conflict custody cases. He is co-chair of the Jacksonville Bar Family Law Committee, serves on Florida Family Law Inn of Court Executive Committee, and sits on two community boards. He is both a father and a husband.
Tell us why you decided to become board-certified. We owe our family law clients so much trust that we must become experts.
David Thompson
Farah & Farah
Civil Trial Law
Thompson has brought 79 cases before a jury. Thompson began his career as a Duval County Prosecutor, rising to the homicide division. Thompson began his career as a prosecutor in Duval County, rising to the homicide division. In 2014, Thompson became an in-house attorney for State Farm. Thompson has now moved from plaintiffs’ trial work to Farah & Farah in 2018.
What led you to concentrate on civil trial law? I was a former prosecutor and wanted a challenge that would allow me to still fight for clients in court.
Autumn L. Graham
Ashley Myers, P.A.
Marital and Family Law
Autumn L. Graham has been licensed in Florida and Georgia. Graham is still active in the Jacksonville community. She serves as a board director for the Family Nurturing Center and was the co-chair of Jacksonville Area Bar Association’s family law section. Graham is also a member of Florida Family Law American Inn of Court.
What led you to specialize in family law? I was a child when my parents were involved in a family law case. This experience sparked a passion to help families who were in similar situations.
Gregory J. Lesak, Jr.
Jimmerson Birr
Real Estate
Gregory J. Lesak Jr., Special Counsel at Jimerson Birr focuses on having an in-depth understanding of underlying business issues and the specific needs of clients. Lesak is an expert in landlord-tenant leasing and dispute settlement, construction contracting, and dispute resolution. He also has expertise in complex commercial litigation, disputes involving insurance, and contract negotiations and drafting.
What made you decide to specialize in real estate law? Real estate has always been of interest to me. I received undergraduate degrees in both finance and real-estate from Florida State University. In law school, I gravitated towards real estate-related classes. It was natural that I would move into real estate law after graduating law school. Early in my career, I worked as an associate with Volpe, Bajalia Wickes Rogerson & Wachs on a variety of real estate litigation matters. I learned from some talented senior attorneys. This experience has solidified my passion for real-estate matters.
The article 2023 Jacksonville Board Certified Attorneys first appeared on Attorney at Law Magazine.